Little Beehive

The temperature at Lake Louise is about ten degrees colder than in Banff. We drove up there this morning to take the trail up to Lake Agnes and the side trip up to the Little Beehive. We have hiked the trail to Lake Agnes several times but today it seemed more steep than we remembered. Maybe we're not quite in shape yet. We have also taken the side trip to the Big Beehive, but never the Little. We're glad we finally did because the views from Little Beehive were stupendous!

Obligatory picture of Lake Louise - on a somewhat cloudy morning.

After 1.1 miles of the trail along Lake Louise that ascends to Lake Agnes through dense subalpine forest, the first switchback provides a break in the trees where we had a clear view down to the pale turquoise water of Lake Louise.

Another one kilometer (0.6 miles) of forest-enclosed climbing brought us to Mirror Lake, a tiny lake with the dark, layered cliffs of the Big Beehive looming above.

The Big Beehive from a viewpoint on the side trail up to the Little Beehive.

Larch trees rarely grow below 6,000 feet and there were plenty of larches on top of Little Beehive. We are particularly fond of the airy and delicate looking Larch trees.

From one of the rocky viewpoints along the trail from Lake Agnes to the Little Beehive we got this view, looking south, of Lake Louise and the surrounding peaks. 

Looking north up the Bow Valley from Little Beehive. Notice the lovely Larch tree on the right side of the picture.

Our lunch spot on Little Beehive. We decided to eat our lunch on Little Beehive instead of at Lake Agnes. We're glad we did because we had the mountain top to ourselves for most of our lunch. At Lake Agnes we would have shared the space with hordes of people.

Lunch view.

More larch trees on Little Beehive.

Beautiful Lake Louise.

View of the Big Beehive from one of the rocky viewpoints on Little Beehive. Notice the sliver of Lake Louise on the bottom left of the picture.

We do not know the name of this wildflower we found on Little Beehive, but...

it is a beautiful color.

Another charming mountain wildflower growing next to a "weeping wall."

Lake Agnes under a cloud cover. It's really a beautifully colored lake in the sunlight.

Handsome Frederick at the waterfall created by Lake Agnes' outlet stream.

Selfie at the same falls.

Today's hike:

Length - 6.47 miles

Duration - 3 hours, 30 minutes (including lunch)

Elevation gain - 1,800 feet (183 floors on the Fitbit)